Today's News: Catastrophic Flash Flooding in Central Texas

Over 80 fatalities have been confirmed, including many children, with dozens still missing, particularly from Camp Mystic, a girls' summer camp.

Terrence Dorsey

Jul 07, 2025

Photo: RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP

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Date: July 4-6, 2025
Topic: Catastrophic Flash Flooding in Central Texas and its Aftermath
Summary: Central Texas experienced catastrophic flash flooding from July 4-6, 2025, primarily affecting Kerr County and the Guadalupe River basin. Torrential rainfall, with some areas receiving 10-18 inches in hours, caused the river to surge rapidly, creating a 20-30 foot “wall of water.” This led to widespread devastation, including homes swept away and significant loss of life. Over 80 fatalities have been confirmed, including many children, with dozens still missing, particularly from Camp Mystic, a girls' summer camp. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, involving local, state, and federal agencies. Questions have arisen regarding the effectiveness of warning systems, staffing levels at the National Weather Service, and local preparedness, particularly in Kerr County which lacked a county-wide flood warning system.

Sources

Key Points

Catastrophic flash flooding struck Central Texas, particularly Kerr County and the Guadalupe River basin, starting in the early hours of July 4.
The rapid and extreme rise of the Guadalupe River, surging by 20-30 feet in a short period, created a “wall of water” that caused widespread devastation.
All articles report high death tolls, which continued to climb throughout the weekend, with over 80 fatalities confirmed, including many children. Dozens of people remain missing.
Camp Mystic, a girls' summer camp in Hunt, Texas, was severely impacted, with numerous campers and staff reported missing or deceased. Camp counselors and security personnel are recognized for their heroic efforts in saving lives.
Extensive search and rescue operations are ongoing, involving various local, state (Texas National Guard, Game Wardens), and federal agencies (U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency).
Federal assistance, including a major disaster declaration signed by President Donald Trump, has been deployed to provide critical resources.
Questions regarding the effectiveness of warning systems and overall preparedness are a central theme across the articles, specifically highlighting Kerr County’s lack of a county-wide flood warning system despite past discussions.
Concerns are raised about staffing levels at National Weather Service offices, with vacancies attributed to Trump administration policies, and their potential impact on coordination with local emergency managers.
The event is frequently compared to a similar deadly flash flood in the region in 1987, with current flood crests noted as exceeding those historic levels.

Unique Highlights

The New York Times uniquely highlights specific vacant positions at National Weather Service offices in San Angelo and San Antonio, such as senior hydrologist and warning coordination meteorologist, and attributes these shortages to Trump administration early retirement packages and hiring freezes, noting a doubling of the vacancy rate. It also provides insights from former NWS officials on the challenges of forecasting such rapid, extreme events.
CNN features personal stories, including Robert Brake’s search for his missing parents and Amanda Sue Jones' account of survival. It also reports on the combined $1.5 million donation from the NFL Foundation, Dallas Cowboys, and Houston Texans for flood victims, and the ongoing search for Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Michael Phillips.
NBC News specifies that 167 out of 237 rescues were performed by helicopter and notes that five of the confirmed deceased are from the Houston or Harris County area. It also mentions Senator Ted Cruz’s direct contact with state and federal officials.
FOX Weather provides the detail that the “deadly flood wave” was a “20-foot wall of water” and reports that the Texas National Guard expanded search areas beyond Kerrville to include Sun Saba and Burnet. It also confirms the death of Camp Mystic Director Richard “Dick” Eastland and the request for DNA samples from families to identify victims.
The Washington Post offers a minute-by-minute narrative of the disaster’s unfolding, including details of campers smashing windows to escape and water creating a “swirl” around cabins. It shares vivid personal accounts, such as Thomas Rux’s RV being swept away and David Lucas waking to two feet of water in his home. The article also reports the death of Jane Ragsdale, director of the Heart O’ the Hills camp, and describes the emotional church service in Kerrville.
The Wall Street Journal uniquely links the extreme rainfall to remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, which dumped up to 18 inches in some areas within three hours. It provides a precise timeline of National Weather Service warnings, including the specific times for the initial flood watch, first flash-flood warning, and catastrophic warning. It also references how the Pot O’Gold Camp was notified during the 1987 flood.

Contrasting Details

Death Toll Figures: The reported death tolls varied across articles due to the evolving nature of the disaster. NBC News reported 24 deaths as of Friday night. The Wall Street Journal stated at least 59 deaths in Kerr County and 9 elsewhere by Sunday. The Washington Post reported at least 78 deaths by Sunday. FOX Weather confirmed at least 79 deaths overall, with 68 in Kerr County, by Sunday. CNN reported the highest figure, at least 80 deaths across central Texas, by Sunday.
Missing Campers from Camp Mystic: NBC News reported between 23 and 25 people from Camp Mystic unaccounted for on Friday night. In contrast, CNN, FOX Weather, and The Washington Post later reported that 10 or 11 girls and one counselor remained missing from the camp as of Sunday.
Impact of National Weather Service Staffing Shortages: The New York Times suggests that staffing shortages at NWS offices “made it harder for the forecasting agency to coordinate with local emergency managers,” with former NWS officials supporting this view. However, CNN quotes Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the National Weather Service employees’ union, stating he believes the offices had “adequate staffing and resources” for the forecast, despite a specific meteorologist vacancy. Similarly, The Wall Street Journal cites NWS sources who said vacancies “didn’t affect the forecast office’s ability to issue warnings for the floods.”
Knowledge of Flood Risk vs. Suddenness: The New York Times and CNN quote Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly stating the county lacked a warning system due to cost and resident resistance. However, The Wall Street Journal also quotes Judge Kelly saying “no one knew this flood was coming,” while simultaneously noting that the river “floods all the time” and is “the most dangerous river valley in the United States,” which could be interpreted as a conflicting perspective on the level of unforeseen risk.

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